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UVA School of Data Science welcomes 92 new M.S. in Data Science students to Grounds
The University of Virginia School of Data Science welcomed 92 new graduate students this week to its residential M.S. in Data Science (MSDS) program, including five in the inaugural Genomics Focus. The incoming class represents a wide range of backgrounds and career stages—from recent college graduates to military veterans preparing for a new chapter—underscoring the School’s commitment to building a dynamic learning community.
A Cohort of Many Paths
The 2025–26 entering class brings with it a wide array of experiences, interests, and ambitions: recent graduates from UVA, locals to Charlottesville, professionals with one to 30+ years of experience across industries, and students from 16 other states and six countries. They include Division I athletes, active-duty and military veterans, a former professional cyclist, public health researchers, sports analysts, software engineers, consultants, and entrepreneurs. Collectively, they embody the School’s vision of data science as an inclusive discipline with the power to serve society across sectors and communities.
“Each year, our students bring incredible energy, diverse perspectives, and a shared passion for data science,” said Prince Afriyie, associate professor of data science and M.S. in Data Science residential program director. He added that the class represents more than 40 undergraduate majors from over 40 institutions, which are “remarkable numbers for a STEM master’s program.”
MSDS student Rameez Ali moved to Charlottesville from Islamabad, Pakistan, to join this year’s cohort. Ali has a background in engineering and graphic design. He shared how excited he is to learn from the breadth of faculty and to gain a greater understanding of how to use data for visualization and storytelling.
“Drawing on my experience in the business intelligence industry, I'm eager to build on my skills through the innovative techniques offered by the MSDS program,” Ali said. “Today’s orientation highlighted the diverse backgrounds of my peers, and I look forward to learning from and collaborating with this talented group.”
A Day of Orientation and Community
New students gathered for a full day of orientation at the School of Data Science building which opened in 2024. They were welcomed by Jeffrey Blume, associate dean of faculty and academic affairs, in the two-story Capital One Hub, followed by introductions of program support faculty and staff.
“Orientation is always a special moment,” said Afriyie. “It sets the tone for the year ahead and reminds us that we're building not only technical skills but also a strong, collaborative community.” He went on to encourage this year’s class to dive into their coursework, connect with one another, and explore the many ways they can responsibly apply data science to real-world problems.
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A Welcome from the Dean
In his afternoon remarks, Phil Bourne, Stephenson Dean of the School of Data Science, congratulated the students on their achievement and set the tone for the year ahead.
“You’ve worked very hard to get here—congratulations—and the hard work is just beginning,” he told the students.
Bourne also encouraged them to take advantage of the School’s breadth of expertise: “I like to think of it as a university within a university. You’ll learn from faculty with backgrounds in ecology, economics, biomedicine, computer science, and more. That diversity means you’ll have a holistic experience, with lots of people to help you on your journey.”
Students spent the rest of the day rotating through sessions on career services, mental health and well-being, technical orientation, and an overview of the capstone experience.
About the Program
The one-year residential master’s in data science prepares students with technical, analytical, and professional skills to become leaders in the field. In just 11 months and 33-credit-hours, students learn essential data analytics topics like natural-language processing, machine learning, text analytics, and deep learning. The integrated curriculum, based on the School’s 4+1 model, combines hands-on learning with real-world application.